Take Your Brewery Beyond the Taproom: How to Grow Your Reach & Build Local Buzz

You’ve built a welcoming space, poured your heart into your beers, and earned loyal regulars. But if your brewery’s growth is limited to your venue’s walls, you might be missing a golden opportunity.

Today’s most successful breweries don’t just serve great beer—they meet their community wherever they are.

Whether it’s a regional food festival, a footy field fundraiser, or your local farmers' market, these offsite opportunities are ripe for expanding your brand, boosting sales, and creating new fans.

Here's how to make it happen.

Why Go Beyond the Taproom

1. Reach New Audiences (Without Huge Ad Spend)
   Local events bring foot traffic from all walks of life—families, tourists, beer newbies. A pop-up or tasting booth puts your brand right in front of people who may never wander into your taproom.
2. Drive More Taproom Visits
   Offering samples and takeaways at events can spark first-time visits, loyalty sign-ups, and repeat customers. A good first sip in the wild often leads to a full pour in your space.
3. Generate Merch & Takeaway Sales
   Pop-ups aren’t just for pouring. They're prime opportunities to sell cans, branded glassware, tees, stubby holders, and other merch—especially if they’re bundled or event-exclusive.

Where to Show Up: High-Impact Event Ideas

• Local Farmers' Markets – Connect with your community in a relaxed, trusted setting. Great for test batches and feedback.
• Local Food Truck Nights – Pair your beer with local food for an extra special taste experience.
• Food & Drink Festivals – Ideal for launching new products or showcasing your core range to a captive audience.
• Sporting Events – Sponsor a local team or host a post-game pop-up—tap into local pride and weekend crowds.
• Street Fairs & Seasonal Markets – Great visibility, minimal setup, and often low cost.

Going Mobile: Pop-Up & Portable Taproom Tips

• Keep it Simple – Focus on 2–3 top-performing beers and make signage crystal clear.
• Chill Setup – A collapsible bar, branded tent, and mobile tap system go a long way.
• Grab-and-Go Options – Offer takeaway packs, crowlers, and merch bundles to increase per-visit spend.

Team Up: Smart Cross-Promotions That Work

• Local food trucks or bakeries – Bundle a 4-pack and a pie. Yes please.
• Gyms or yoga studios – "Sweat then Sip" sessions are more popular than ever.
• Musicians or artists – Pop-up gigs and gallery collabs bring culture + customers.

You each bring your crowd. You both win.

Start Small, Scale Smart

You don’t need a huge outlay to start expanding. Try one market, one event, one partner. Measure the impact—sales, sign-ups, mentions—and build from there.

Most importantly: show up consistently, look sharp, and bring your best brew.

Ready to Take the Leap

Your next loyal customer might be wandering a market this weekend. Or sitting at a festival stage next month. Meet them there!

Download the checklist